Combination ironing-table and step-ladder.



No'. 833,097. PATENTED 00T. 9, 1906.

W. B. VANDNGRIPT. COMBINATION INONING TABLE AND STEP LADDER.

APPLIUATION FILED 0(}T.8I 1904.

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UNITED sTATEs.

PATENT NoEEIcE.

COMBINATION IRONING-TABLE AND STEP-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1906.

Application filed October 8,1904.. Serial No. 227.655.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. VANDE- GRIF'I, a citizen of the United States, residing at Branchville, inthe county of St. Clairand State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in a Combination Ironing-Table and Step-Ladder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined ironing-table and step-ladder; and the primary object of the same is to provide a simple and effective organization of elements which may be quickly adjusted and arranged to convert the improved device into an ironing-table or a step-ladder, and thereby have one device capable of serving two different purposes.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device arranged as an ironing-table. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device as shown arranged by Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the improved device arranged as a step-ladder. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through the upper part of the device shown by Fig. 3. y Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section of Fig. 2 and is also partially broken away. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the connecting-- hinges.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates an ironing-table of the usual shape, having parallel guides 2 secured to the under side thereof and spaced apart from each other. The guides have their inner opposing edges open and are connected at one end by across-support 3. The opposite ends of the guides adjacent to the reduced extremity of the board 1 are open, and therein is slidably mounted a supplemental pressing-board. 4 for use in ironing trousers or other analogous devices. This supplemental pressing-board 4 is projectible from the under side of the board 1, as clearly shown by Fig. 1 and is held in immovable position either when projected or drawn under the said board 1by a set-screw 5, extending' through the inner extremity thereof and adapted to impiuge against the under side of the said board 1. Rigidly secured to the ironing-board adjacent to the strip 3 is a head-block 6, which serves as the top rest of the ladder, which will be hereinafter more fully explained. The head-block 6 is held firmly against the outer edge of the strip 3 and is rendered stable by oblique braces 7, extending therefrom to the said strip.

Secured at an intermediate point on the under side of the board 1 against the guides 2 are stop-cleats 8, one on each side of the board, each cleat having one end 9 cut at a downward angle of inclination and also formed with an under angular notch 10 in the lower edge thereof. These cleats provide means for supporting the ironing-board at different elevations. When the ironingboard 1 is disposed in horizontal position for use, the head-block 6 extends outwardly therefrom at an angle of inclination; but when the device is arranged as a step-ladder said head-block assumes a horizontal position.

The ladder member 1 1 is movably attached to the end of the board 1 having the headblock 6 secured thereto by means of elongated strap-hinges 19, provided with arms 12 and 12, one member of each hinge being secured to the outer side of the one guide and ythe remaining coperating member of such hinge to the outer side of the adjacent portion of one of the rails 14 of the ladder member. The rails 14 of the ladder member are provided at regular intervals with step-boards 15, and at an intermediate point the edges of the rails have seat-slots 16 extending thereinto for a purpose which will presently ap- Y pear. When the device is arranged as an Ironing-board, the ladder member 11 is projected. thereunder at an angle and serves as a leg or support, and coperating therewith is an auxiliary support,which consists of opposite side strips or bars 17, connected by a cross-rod 18 and pivotally attached by means of rivets or analogous devices 19a to the rails 14 of the lad der member 1 1, nearer the end of the latter, which is attached to the board. When the device is arranged as a ladder, the auxiliary leg attachment having the connected side strips or bars 17 fold against or over the outer sides of the rails 14 of the ladder member and the cross-rod 18 enters the seat-slots 16, as clearly shown by Fig. 3, thus disposing the said auxiliary leg attachment in such position as not to interfere with the use of the ladder member. When the device is arranged asan ironing-board, the ends of the auxiliary leg attachment farthest from the connecting-rod 18 are brought into contact with the ends 9 or notches 1() of the cleats IOO IIO

su'Hicient distanceto allow the ladder member 11-.to have sufficient play or ample movement 1n the conversion of the device from an ironlng-board to a'step-ladder, or vice versa, and

VVthe ends, of the rails 14 adjacent to the connected ends of the hinfremembers bear against the inner side of the 2head-block 6, said ends being cut at an oblique angle to cause a firm engagement thereof with the head-block. The ends of the said rails 14 bearing against the head-block 6 when the device is arranged .as a step-ladder prevents the ladder member -andboard from spreading apart, a sufiicient Iresistance being set up between the ends of the rails 14and the head-block to resist considerable weight pressure broughtto bear on y.the ladder member when the latter is in use Without liability of splitting or breaking the v.board in the least.

said head-block, especially in vievvr ofithe braces .7, which materially strengthen lthe said head-block, The ends of strips 17 and the rails 14, which are adapted to contact with the floor or other base rest, are also cut -at an angle for obvious reasons.

VWhen the device is arranged as a step-ladder, the board 1 serves as the resisting support for thel ladder member 11, as clearly shown by Fig. 3, and the use of the improved device as astep-ladder does not injure the ironing- The improved device may be reduced to compact form by folding the ladder member, carrying the auxiliary leg attachment against the Vunder side of the board. The board is adapted to be supplied with the usual cushion and covering, and suflicient space is provided for movement of the auxiliary pressing-board 4 to permit the latter to alsohave applied thereto a covering, if desired.

It will be understood that changes in the proportions, dimensions, and minor details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Havinv thus fully described the invention, what is c aimed as new is- In a device of theclass set forth, the` combination of an ironing-board having grooved parallel guides on itsunder side, a pressingboard slidably disposed within said grooves, a cross-piece at one end of guides, and a headblock on the cross-piece and supported by braces attached thereto, a ladder hingedto the guides by strap-hinges on its outersides and the sides of the guides, and having its upper ends bearing against the head-block to prevent the ladder and boa-rd from spreading apart when the device is arranged for use as a step-ladder an auxiliary support pivotally secured to the ladder, and cleats on the guides adapted to receive one end of the auxiliary support when the device is arranged for .use as an ironing-board. v

In testimony whereof I afIix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM B. VANDEGRIFT.

Witnesses:

F. M. NELENNs, I. A. GLENN. 

